Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 21

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

यः स्वभासा जगत् कृत्स्नं प्रकाशयति सर्वदा / सूर्यो वृष्टिं वितनुते शास्त्रेणैव स्वयंभुवः

Transliteration

yaḥ svabhāsā jagat kṛtsnaṃ prakāśayati sarvadā / sūryo vṛṣṭiṃ vitanute śāstreṇaiva svayaṃbhuvaḥ

Translation

ଯିଏ ନିଜ ସ୍ୱଭାସାରେ ସଦା ସମଗ୍ର ଜଗତକୁ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ କରନ୍ତି, ସେଇ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ରୂପେ ବର୍ଷାକୁ ବିସ୍ତାର କରନ୍ତି; ଏବଂ ସ୍ୱୟଂଭୂ ପ୍ରଭୁ ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରାଧିକାରରେ ହିଁ ସମସ୍ତ ବିଧାନ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun

• sva-bhāsā: by (his) own light
• sva-bhāsā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'by his own light'

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• kṛtsnam: entire
• kṛtsnam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtsna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying jagat

• prakāśayati: illuminates
• prakāśayati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prakāś (धातु, denom. from prakāśa)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; causative/denominative sense 'makes shine/illuminates'

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण) 'always'

• sūryaḥ: the Sun
• sūryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• vṛṣṭim: rain
• vṛṣṭim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• vitanute: spreads/dispenses
• vitanute: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tan (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular; with vi- prefix

• śāstreṇa: by ordinance/law
• śāstreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात) of emphasis 'indeed/only'

• svayaṃbhuvaḥ: of the Self-born
• svayaṃbhuvaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svayaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular; epithet 'of the Self-born (Brahmā)'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in a didactic tone on cosmic governance through Śāstra

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Svayambhu

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It presents the Supreme as self-luminous (svabhāsā): consciousness that does not borrow light from anything else, yet makes the whole world knowable and manifest.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śāstra as the regulating principle of life; in Kurma-style discipline this supports yama-niyama, dharma-based conduct, and contemplation on the Lord as the inner light behind all perception—foundational for Pāśupata-oriented practice.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By describing one Īśvara who appears as multiple cosmic functions (illumination, sun-power, rain-giving, scriptural governance), it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the one Lord is praised through different divine names and offices.